Methods and systems for proxy voting

ABSTRACT

One embodiment of the present invention relates to electronic voting methods and systems that help simplify the management of institutional proxies. In one example, the methods and systems manage the process of meeting notifications, voting, tracking, mailing, reporting, record maintenance and/or vote disclosure rules enacted by the SEC. In one specific example, this may be done for thousands of publicly traded securities custodied at various banks, brokers and global custodians. In another example, a system (and corresponding method) may be provided for integrating, organizing and displaying (e.g., via a website) information in a language of preference for each user of the system. The information may comprise meeting, agenda and/or ballot information and the users of the system/method may be voting entities empowered to cast votes via the system.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/117,663, filed May 27, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No.7,953,589, issued May 31, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Appln. No. 60/773,529, filed Feb. 15, 2006, which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention relates to electronic votingmethods and systems that help simplify the management of institutionalproxies.

In one example, the methods and systems manage the process of meetingnotifications, voting, tracking, mailing, reporting, record maintenanceand/or vote disclosure rules enacted by the SEC. In one specificexample, this may be done for thousands of publicly traded securitiescustodied at various banks, brokers and global custodians.

In another example, a system (and corresponding method) may be providedfor integrating, organizing and displaying (e.g., via a website)information in a language of preference for each user of the system. Theinformation may comprise meeting, agenda and/or ballot information andthe users of the system/method may be voting entities empowered to castvotes via the system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are various patents related to personalized/customized contentdelivery based on localization (e.g., languages). The following are afew examples: U.S. Pat. No. 7,149,964, issued Dec. 12, 1006 in the nameof Cottrille et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,623,529, issued Sep. 23, 2003 inthe name of Lakritz; U.S. Pat. No. 6,557,005, issued Apr. 29, 2003 inthe name of Buget; U.S. Pat. No. 6,429,995, issued Dec. 10, 2002 in thename of Atkin et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,345,293, issued Feb. 5, 2002in the name of Chaddha.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-3 are website pages showing “login” screens (presented,respectively, in English,

Japanese and German) according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 4-6 are website pages showing “home” screens (presented,respectively, in English, Japanese and German) according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7-9 are website pages showing “Meeting List” screens (presented,respectively, in English, Japanese and German) according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 10-12 are website pages showing “Ballot List” screens (presented,respectively, in English, Japanese and German) according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 13-15 are website pages showing “Vote Ballot” screens (presented,respectively, in English, Japanese and German) according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 shows a flowchart relating to building a language specific htmlpage from a jsp template according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 17 shows a diagram of a computer device for presenting informationassociated with a website according to another embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 18 shows a diagram of a computer device for presenting informationassociated with a website according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

Among those benefits and improvements that have been disclosed, otherobjects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingfigures. The figures constitute a part of this specification and includeillustrative embodiments of the present invention and illustrate variousobjects and features thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein;however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments aremerely illustrative of the invention that may be embodied in variousforms. In addition, each of the examples given in connection with thevarious embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative, andnot restrictive. Further, the figures are not necessarily to scale, somefeatures may be exaggerated to show details of particular components.Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed hereinare not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representativebasis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ thepresent invention.

Advisors and managers are typically required to comply with SECregulations regarding their proxy voting procedures and record keeping.One embodiment of the present invention provides an Internet tool thathelps such advisors and managers achieve compliance and streamlinevoting. In one example, the present invention may help advisors andmanagers to manage, track, reconcile and report proxy voting throughelectronic delivery of ballots, online voting, and SEC compliantreporting and record keeping (proxy information may, in one example, beprovided through an automated electronic interface based on sharepositions provided directly to a system operator by various custodianbank(s)/broker(s)).

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system forintegrating, organizing and displaying (e.g., via a website) informationin a language of preference for each user of the system (see FIGS. 1-15for examples of such displays according to various languagepreferences). In one example (which example is intended to beillustrative and not restrictive), the information may comprise meeting,agenda and/or ballot information. In another example (which example isintended to be illustrative and not restrictive), the language ofpreference for each user may be expressed by the user each time that theuser signs on to the system. In another example (which example isintended to be illustrative and not restrictive), the language ofpreference for each user may be expressed by the user once, such as atthe time of a first sign-on. In this latter example, the language ofpreference may then be used for that user for subsequent sign-ons (oruntil changed by the user). In another example (which example isintended to be illustrative and not restrictive), the users of thesystem may be voting entities empowered to cast votes via the system.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, website pages showing “login” screens(presented, respectively, in English, Japanese and German) according toan embodiment of the present invention are shown. Of note, variousgraphical user interface elements incorporate the specific languagesassociated with each webpage. For example, FIG. 1 shows use of textentry box labels in English (see, e.g., “Institution ID”, “User ID”,“Password”), use of a command button caption in English (see, e.g.,“Login”), use of a check box label in English (see, e.g., “Save LoginInfo”) use of a tab element caption in English (see, e.g., “Login”) anduse of various text labels in English. FIGS. 2 and 3 show thecorresponding elements in the respective languages.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-6, website pages showing “home” screens(presented, respectively, in English, Japanese and German) according toan embodiment of the present invention are shown.

Again, various graphical user interface elements incorporate thespecific languages associated with each webpage. For example, FIG. 4shows use of various text labels in English and use of a tab elementcaption in English (see, e.g., “Home”). FIGS. 5 and 6 show thecorresponding elements in the respective languages.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-9, website pages showing “Meeting List” screens(presented, respectively, in English, Japanese and German) according toan embodiment of the present invention are shown.

Again, various graphical user interface elements incorporate thespecific languages associated with each webpage. For example, FIG. 7shows use of a drop-down list box in English (see, e.g., “All”), use ofa command button caption in English (see, e.g., “Apply”), use of textlabels in English associated with the columns of the table, use ofvarious table data in English, use of tab element captions in English(see, e.g., ““Meeting List”, “Meeting Lookup””) and use of various textlabels in English. FIGS. 8 and 9 show the corresponding elements in therespective languages.

Referring now to FIGS. 10-12, website pages showing “Ballot List”screens (presented, respectively, in English, Japanese and German)according to an embodiment of the present invention are shown.

Again, various graphical user interface elements incorporate thespecific languages associated with each webpage. For example, FIG. 10shows use of drop-down list boxes in English (see, e.g., “Accounts” and“All”), use of a command button caption in English (see, e.g., “Apply”),use of text labels in English associated with the columns of the table,use of various table data in English, use of tab element captions inEnglish (see, e.g., ““Ballot List”, “Meeting Details”) and use ofvarious text labels in English. FIGS. 11 and 12 show the correspondingelements in the respective languages.

Referring now to FIGS. 13-15, website pages showing “Vote Ballot”screens (presented, respectively, in English, Japanese and German)according to an embodiment of the present invention are shown.

Again, various graphical user interface elements incorporate thespecific languages associated with each webpage. For example, FIG. 13shows use of drop-down list boxes in English (see, e.g., “Quick Vote”),use of radio button captions in English (see, e.g., “For”, “Against”,“Abstain”), use of check box text labels in English (see, e.g., “ShowContrary To Policy”), use of a hyperlink in English (see, e.g.,“Comments”), use of text labels in English associated with the columnsof the table, use of various table data in English, use of tab elementcaptions in English (see, e.g., ““Vote Ballot”, “Meeting Details”,“Ballot List”) and use of various text labels in English. FIGS. 14 and15 show the corresponding elements in the respective languages.

Of note, one embodiment of the present invention may use “messagetokens” to identify various script items that need to be displayed.These message tokens may refer, for example, to specific rows in atranslation database (wherein there is a column in the database forevery language that the system needs to support). In this configuration,the application logic may be consistent for all applications across agiven website (for example), but the language of the presentation can betailored to the preference of any particular user at any particulartime. To give one specific example of such tailoring of languagepreferences (which example is intended to be illustrative and notrestrictive), the message token “pe.common.label.account” may call up“Account” to the screen if the language preference was English, theappropriate Japanese characters to the screen if the language preferencewas Japanese, and “Depot” to the screen if the language preference wasGerman (the system would recognize that the content of the field was theaccount regardless of how it was described to the user).

In another embodiment of the present invention a method (e.g., a dataprocessing method) may be provided. This method may include, but not belimited to: (a) tabularizing text elements into message tokens composedof a hierarchical string of descriptors including, but not limited to:application; page specific/common; content type; context; content key;(b) interpreting the message tokens to locate the row in a translationsheet database that identifies the interpretation of the text element inany supported language; (c) combining the message token and languagepreference indicator to select the column and row in the database toselect the appropriate display; and (d) displaying the appropriatelanguage on the application screen.

Again, in one specific example (which example is intended to beillustrative and not restrictive), the method may provide meeting,agenda and/or ballot information which may be used by voting entities inthe language of their choice.

In other examples (which examples are intended to be illustrative andnot restrictive), the invention may provide for the translation of anyfixed body of information to be displayed electronically, statically,dynamically and/or interactively. Generic applications (e.g., globalapplications and/or help screens) can be developed independent of thelanguage of presentation and additional languages can be added as needed(e.g., by inserting another column in the database).

Referring now to FIG. 16, an example of building language specific htmlfrom a JavaServer Pages template is shown. More particularly, as seen inthis FIG. 16, the following steps may be employed:

-   -   JSP page issues a request for a language specific string by        locale (language preference) and key (message token)    -   Translation sheet program looks to see if that language is        already loaded. If it is, the program drops through, picks up        the text associated with the language specific key from the        cache and returns it to the requesting JSP page.    -   If the language specific key is not loaded in the cache, the        program gets the language specific key value pairs from the        database and creates a hash map of the locale specific keys and        values that is then loaded into cache for rapid access.    -   If no language specific text is in the database corresponding to        the language specific key provided, the program will bring in        the “English” text and present English as the default language        for that particular message token to the JSP page for        presentation. The remainder of the page will be in the user        selected language if available.    -   If there is no “English” text and no language specific text for        the locale of choice, the system will generate an error message        string of “???message token???” and return it to the JSP page        for presentation.

Referring now to FIG. 17, a computer device for presenting informationassociated with a website according to one embodiment of the presentinvention is shown. As seen in this FIG. 17, data storage interface 1701(which may comprise, for example, a direct connection and/or a networksuch as the Internet and/or an intranet) is arranged and configured tobe coupled between database 1703 (which may comprise one or morephysical databases) and input mechanism 1705 (which may comprise, forexample, a website, a dedicated terminal, and/or any other desired inputmechanism).

Further, the data storage interface 1701 operates to receive dataindicative of at least a first word in a first language and provide thedata to the database 1703 and the data storage interface 1701 operatesto receive data indicative of at least the first word in a secondlanguage and provide the data to the database 1703, wherein the secondlanguage is different from the first language.

Further still, computer interface 1707 (which may comprise, for example,a direct connection and/or a network such as the Internet and/or anintranet) is arranged and configured to be coupled between the database1703 and computer 1709 (which may comprise, for example, one or morecomputer servers operating as website server(s)). The computer 1709determines whether to display data to a user of the website in the firstlanguage or the second language (e.g., based on a preference set by theuser and/or by a system administrator).

Further still, display interface 1711 (which may comprise, for example,a direct connection and/or a network such as the Internet and/or anintranet) is arranged and configured to be coupled between the computer1709 and display mechanism 1713 (which may comprise, for example, amonitor displaying one or more webpages at one or more websites).

Computer 1709 displays on display mechanism 1713 via display interface1711 the data indicative of the first word in the first language fromdatabase 1703 if it had been determined to display data to the user ofthe website in the first language; computer 1709 displays on displaymechanism 1713 via display interface 1711 the data indicative of thefirst word in the second language from database 1703 if it had beendetermined to display data to the user of the website in the secondlanguage; and computer 1709 displays on display mechanism 1713 viadisplay interface 1711 at least one graphical user interface element.

Of note, the display in the first language may comprise incorporatingthe stored data indicative of the first word in the first language intothe graphical user interface element; and the display in the secondlanguage may comprise incorporating the stored data indicative of thefirst word in the second language into the graphical user interfaceelement.

Referring now to FIG. 18, a computer device for presenting informationassociated with a website according to one embodiment of the presentinvention is shown. As seen in this FIG. 18, computer 1801 (which maycomprise, for example, one or more computer servers operating as websiteserver(s)) determines whether to display data to a user of the websitein a first language or a second language, wherein the second language isdifferent from the first language.

Further data transmission interface 1803 (which may comprise, forexample, a direct connection and/or a network such as the Internetand/or an intranet) is arranged and configured to be coupled betweensource of data 1805 (which may comprise, for example, one or morephysical databases, a mechanism for inputting data, and/or any otherdesired source(s) of data) and the computer 1801.

Further still, display interface 1807 (which may comprise, for example,a direct connection and/or a network such as the Internet and/or anintranet) is arranged and configured to be coupled between the computer1801 and display mechanism 1809 (which may comprise, for example, amonitor displaying one or more webpages at one or more websites).

If it had been determined by the computer 1801 to display data to theuser of the website in the first language, the following is performed:(i) obtaining data indicative of at least a first word in the firstlanguage, wherein the data is obtained from the source of data 1805 viathe data transmission interface 1803; (ii) displaying on the displaymechanism 1809 via the display interface 1807 the data indicative of thefirst word in the first language; and (iii) displaying on the displaymechanism 1809 via the display interface 1807 at least one graphicaluser interface element.

If it had been determined by the computer 1801 to display data to theuser of the website in the second language, the following is performed:(i) obtaining data indicative of at least the first word in the secondlanguage, wherein the data is obtained from the source of data 1805 viathe data transmission interface 1803; (ii) displaying on the displaymechanism 1809 via the display interface 1807 the data indicative of thefirst word in the second language; and (iii) displaying on the displaymechanism 1809 via the display interface 1807 at least one graphicaluser interface element.

Of note, the display in the first language may comprise incorporatingthe obtained data indicative of the first word in the first languageinto the graphical user interface element; and the display in the secondlanguage may comprise incorporating the obtained data indicative of thefirst word in the second language into the graphical user interfaceelement.

In another embodiment of the present invention the system may useessentially the same application logic (regardless of language display),but allow the presentation of the information to be sensitive to thelanguage preference of the user and/or administrator and to thecontextual differences between like expressions in different languages.

Of note, the present invention may, of course, be implemented using anyappropriate computer hardware and/or computer software. In this regard,those of ordinary skill in the art are well versed in the type ofcomputer hardware that may be used (e.g., a mainframe, a mini-computer,a personal computer (“PC”), a network (e.g., an intranet and/or theInternet)), the type of computer programming techniques that may be used(e.g., object oriented programming), and the type of computerprogramming languages that may be used (e.g., C++, Basic). Theaforementioned examples are, of course, illustrative and notrestrictive.

While a number of embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed, it is understood that these embodiments are illustrativeonly, and not restrictive, and that many modifications may becomeapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, certainmethods may be “computer implementable” or “computer implemented.” Inthis regard, it is noted that while such methods can be implementedusing a computer, the methods do not necessarily have to be implementedusing a computer. Also, to the extent that such methods are implementedusing a computer, not every step must necessarily be implemented using a. computer. Further, the present invention may be used in the context ofany desired number of different languages (the three presented hereinare examples only). Further still, any desired number of users may besupported. Further still, any steps may be carried out in any desiredorder (and any desired steps may be added and/or any desired steps maybe eliminated).

1. A computer implemented method for proxy voting, comprising: enteringa website for proxy voting, wherein the website is entered by a user andwherein the user is a voting entity empowered to cast votes via thewebsite; storing data indicative of at least a first word in a firstlanguage; storing data indicative of at least the first word in a secondlanguage, wherein the second language is different from the firstlanguage; determining whether to display data to the user of the websitein the first language or the second language; incorporating the storeddata indicative of the first word in the first language into a graphicaluser interface element if it had been determined to display data to theuser of the website in the first language; incorporating the stored dataindicative of the first word in the second language into a graphicaluser interface element if it had been determined to display data to theuser of the website in the second language; displaying to the user ofthe website the data indicative of the first word in the first languageas incorporated into the graphical user interface element if it had beendetermined to display data to the user of the website in the firstlanguage; and displaying to the user of the website the data indicativeof the first word in the second language as incorporated into thegraphical user interface element if it had been determined to displaydata to the user of the website in the second language; whereininformation associated with the graphical user interface elementcomprises at least one of meeting information, agenda information andballot information.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical userinterface element is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a textlabel for a text entry box; (b) a text label for a drop-down list box;(c) a text label for a drop-down combo box; (d) a text label associatedwith a column of a table; (e) a text label associated with a row of atable; (f) a text label for a radio button; (g) a text label for a checkbox; (h) a caption for a tab element; and (i) a caption for a commandbutton.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein computer instruction logic fordisplaying the graphical user interface element is constant regardlessof whether it had been determined to display the stored data indicativeof the first word in the first language or the stored data indicative ofthe first word in the second language.
 4. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising storing data indicative of a plurality of words in the firstlanguage and storing data indicative of a plurality of words in thesecond language.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising displayingto the user of the website the data indicative of each of the pluralityof words in the first language if it had been determined to display datato the user of the website in the first language.
 6. The method of claim4, further comprising displaying to the user of the website the dataindicative of each of the plurality of words in the second language ifit had been determined to display data to the user of the website in thesecond language.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination ofwhether to display data to the user of the website in the first languageor the second language is made by the user.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein the determination of whether to display data to the user of thewebsite in the first language or the second language is made by the usereach time the user logs-on to the website.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein the determination of whether to display data to the user of thewebsite in the first language or the second language is made by the useronce and is then stored.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein thedetermination of whether to display data to the user of the website inthe first language or the second language is subsequently changed by theuser.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the data indicative of thefirst word in the first language is stored in a database and the dataindicative of the first word in the second language is stored in adatabase.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the database in which thedata indicative of the first word in the first language is stored is thesame as the database in which the data indicative of the first word inthe second language is stored.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein thesteps are carried out in the order recited.
 14. A computer implementedmethod for proxy voting, comprising: entering a website for proxyvoting, wherein the website is entered by a user and wherein the user isa voting entity empowered to cast votes via the website; determiningwhether to display data to the user of the website in a first languageor a second language, wherein the second language is different from thefirst language; if it had been determined to display data to the user ofthe website in the first language: obtaining data indicative of at leasta first word in the first language, incorporating the obtained dataindicative of the first word in the first language into a graphical userinterface element and displaying to the user the data indicative of thefirst word in the first language as incorporated into the graphical userinterface element; and if it had been determined to display data to theuser of the website in the second language: obtaining data indicative ofat least the first word in the second language, incorporating theobtained data indicative of the first word in the second language into agraphical user interface element and displaying to the user the dataindicative of the first word in the second language as incorporated intothe graphical user interface element; wherein the information associatedwith the graphical user interface element comprises at least one ofmeeting information, agenda information and ballot information.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, wherein the obtaining of the data indicative of thefirst word in the first language comprises retrieving the data fromstorage.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the obtaining of the dataindicative of the first word in the second language comprises retrievingthe data from storage.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the graphicaluser interface element is selected from the group consisting of: (a) atext label for a text entry box; (b) a text label for a drop-down listbox; (c) a text label for a drop-down combo box; (d) a text labelassociated with a column of a table; (e) a text label associated with arow of a table; (f) a text label for a radio button; (g) a text labelfor a check box; (h) a caption for a tab element; and (i) a caption fora command button.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein computerinstruction logic for displaying the graphical user interface element isconstant regardless of whether it had been determined to display thedata indicative of the first word in the first language or the dataindicative of the first word in the second language.
 19. The method ofclaim 14, further comprising storing data indicative of a plurality ofwords in the first language and storing data indicative of a pluralityof words in the second language.
 20. The method of claim 19, furthercomprising displaying to the user of the website the data indicative ofeach of the plurality of words in the first language if it had beendetermined to display data to the user of the website in the firstlanguage.